Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 9: 5/17

~ている(ところ)In the process of doing ~ right now/at this moment

In this use ところ means "stage/level/situation"

Structure

Verb[ている]+ ところ +

Details

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About ているところだ

In the previous grammar point, we learned that たところ (or ていたところ) will mean 'just did (A)', or 'was just doing (A)'. ているところ works in a similar way, but expresses that someone is right in the middle of doing something. It is regularly translated as 'doing (A) right now', or 'in the process of (A)'.

Caution

Using ているところ will indicate that someone is 'busy with (A)', and would therefore not be used when changing actions suddenly. In these cases ているところだった would be used, before the (B) phrase would further explain what happened next.

  • 映画(えいが)()ているところだったから電話(でんわ)()なかった
    I was in the middle of watching a movie, so I couldn't answer the phone.
  • ギター()ているところだったからメッセージに気付(きづ)なかった
    I was in the middle of playing my guitar, so I didn't notice your message.

Examples

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    (いま)映画(えいが)()ているところです

    I am in the process of watching a movie right now.

    (いま)、お(とう)さん富士山(ふじさん)(のぼ)っているところです

    My dad is in the process of climbing Mt. Fuji right now.

    警察官(けいさつかん)パトロールしているところです

    The police officer is in the process of doing her patrol at this moment.

    (いま)先生(せんせい)()いているところです

    I am in the process of asking the teacher right now.

    (ぼく)(いま)日本語(にほんご)勉強(べんきょう)しているところだけど

    I am in the process of studying Japanese right now. (Annoyed that he is being interrupted)

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      ているところだ – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (7 in total)

      • Pushindawood

        Pushindawood

        in the process of doing ~ right now/at this moment

        Structure

        • Verb[ ている ] + ところ

        View on Bunpro

      • Scyamntic

        Scyamntic

        In レジでお金かねを はらっているところ で、泥棒どろぼうが入はいって来きました why is the past tense (払っていた) also allowed? I admit, the past tense form came to me more naturally than the infinitive but the grammar notes make no reference as to wether it is interchangeable generally or just a special case

      • mrnoone

        mrnoone

        Hey

        First of all, in clauses like AところB where the predicate of B is くる、いく、帰る, usually ところに・ところへ are used. ところで is also natural, but ところに still fits better. I will change the sentence to something like 「ところで財布を落としちゃった。」

        When we have “When I was doing A, B happened” type of sentence AているところB and AていたところB are interchangeable.

        Notice that A is actually in the past tense.

        When it comes to:
        ゲームをやっていたところだ。
        ゲームをやっているところだ。

        The former means that you are no longer playing, but the later expresses that playing the game is still going on.

        I hope it clarifies it a bit,
        Cheers!

      • Jl45

        Jl45

        レジでお金(かね)を はらっているところ で、泥棒(どろぼう)が入(はい)って来(き)ました。

        はらっているところ this happened in the past so why isnt はらっていtaところ a correct answer?

      • matt_in_mito

        matt_in_mito

        払っていたところ is also acceptable but generally in Japanese the tense of a sentence only comes at the end.
        The same can be said for levels of politeness - i.e. use plain form throughout a long sentence and stick ます on the end to make it polite.

      • mrnoone

        mrnoone

        Hey and welcome on the community forums @Jl45

        Like @matt_in_mito said, usually in Japanese tense of the sentence is determined at the end. Like in this case, whether you use ている and ていた the meaning is the same, the interlocutor picks the tense from the context.

        Though there are cases when you are forced to use certain forms, like past form before あと or
        non-past before 前,

        By the way, read this post:

      • Scyamntic

        Scyamntic

        Indeed it does!
        いつも手伝ってくれてありがとうな!

      • ThiagoIanuch

        ThiagoIanuch

        What is the difference between ていたところだ and ているところだった?

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